Chapter 3 Summary

Ten days have passed since their abduction, and slowly both, Maruja and Beatriz accustom themselves with the routine of their captivity. The room is small, with only a single bed (occupied by Marina), a mattress shared by the two women and a bathroom to be shared by the three women and four guards. The room has a radio and television set, but the women are forced to speak in a whisper, are not allowed to move from the mattress, and have to seek permission from the guards to sit, stretch smoke and even speak.

Initially, Maruja fares poorly, refusing to speak or eat and sleeping for a mere thirty minutes at a time. She finds herself irritated not only by the guards but also by the attitude and behaviour of her fellow captives as well. Beatriz, meanwhile, busies herself by recording the details...